Westchester, Illinois
· In April 2005, the Westchester Police Dept retired our first police K-9 after 6 1/2 years of service, and unexpectedly Horand passed away in June 2005 from a sudden illness.
· In May 2005 the Westchester Police Department purchased a new Police K-9. "K-9 Brix" was purchased through the Northern Michigan Police K-9 center in Harrison Michigan where he trained with his new handler Sgt O'Hagan.
· Brix is a Pure-bred Male German Shepherd, born 2/4/03 in the Czech Republic where he was trained as a dual-purpose "SOCIAL" police service dog. Brix receives all of his commands in Czech language from his handler
· Brix is now part of the O'Hagan family and lives at home with them.
· Brix has been trained in
o Narcotics Detection
o Obedience
o Building Searches
o Article Searches/Evidence Recovery
o Tracking Suspects or Lost Persons
o Handler Protection
o And Suspect Apprehension
· Brix received his police badge star # 123-3/4, and is recognized as an Official Police Service Dog for the Village of Westchester, which allows for criminal charges against anyone who may injure or tease him during his course of service.
· Brix is utilized often, and during his first two weeks located a subject with felony warrants who ran from police and was hiding in a neighborhood yard.
· The K-9 team is an active member of the Illinois Police Work Dog Association , and The North American Police Work Dog Association
· Mike O'Hagan: mohagan@westchesterpolice.com began his career with the Westchester Police Dept in 1990, and was assigned to the department's first K-9 unit in 1998, and promoted to Sgt in 2004. Mike and Brix were promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in July 2007. Mike serves on the ILPWDA Board of Directors (2001 - Present), President of the Westchester FOP Lodge #21 (1994 - Present), and Trustee on the Westchester Police Pension Board (2000 - Present).
· K9 Brix: WPDk9Brix@aol.com